A bathrobe, dressing gown or morning gown is a robe, a loose-fitting outer garment, which may be worn by men or women. A dressing gown may be worn over nightwear or other clothing, or with nothing underneath. Dressing gowns are typically worn around the house and bathrobes may sometimes be worn after a body wash or around a pool. They may be worn for warmth, as a convenient covering over nightwear when not being in bed, or as a form of lingerie. A dressing gown or a housecoat is a loose, open-fronted gown closed with a fabric belt that is put on over nightwear on rising from bed, or, less commonly today, worn over some day clothes when partially dressed or undressed in the morning or evening (for example, over a man’s shirt and trousers without jacket and tie). A bathrobe is a dressing gown made from towelling or other absorbent fabric, and may be donned while the wearer’s body is wet, serving both as a towel and a body covering.
Bathrobes are generally made of four different fabrics:
Microfiber:Microfiber is an extremely fine synthetic fiber, typically made of cellulose or polyester that can be woven into textiles to mimic natural-fiber cloth. Modern microfibers are developed to maximize breathability and water absorption and can be thinner than the width of human hair. Much like silk, robes made out of microfiber are light in weight and are very soft to the touch. Microfiber is flammable.
Nylon:Nylon is a synthetic fiber occasionally used in inexpensive dressing gowns. It is valued for its ability to be cleaned easily.
Wool:Wool bathrobes are common in colder climates.
Silk:Silk dressing gowns are popular because of their look and feel, but can be relatively expensive. Silk robes are very thin and lightweight, and are not particularly suited to wet situations because they lack the surface area and polarity necessary to absorb water. However, silk dressing gowns are the traditional choice, since they are not worn after bathing.
Cotton:Cotton is a natural fiber consisting primarily of cellulose and is one of the most commonly used fibers in textile manufacturing. Due to the hydrophilic nature of cellulose, cotton absorbs water easily and is frequently used by the beach, pool, or following a shower. Cotton robes are especially suited to use in hot climates because cotton tends to absorb perspiration.
